Heat transfer system



M. E. FIENE HEAT TRANSFER SYSTEM Filed Feb. e 1945 Ila Hatter-neg.

Patented May 2, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEAT TRANSFER SYSTEM Marcus E. Ficne, Caldwell, N. J., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application February 6, 1943, Serial No. 474,979

11 Claims.

variably energized from an outside power source under thermostatic control for controlling the amount of circulating fluid in the vaporizer and condenser heat transfer system by exchanging condensate between the reservoir and the system.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved self contained. mechanical control system having a self-amplifying action in varying the amount of fluid circulating in a vaporizer and condenser heat transfer system to regulate the rate of heat transfer thereof.

tion in such a thermosiphon typeof pumping means in order to adapt the improved variable rate vaporizing and condensing heat transfer system for automatic room temperature control or other service, where noise might be objectionable.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description of the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a variable rate vaporizing and condensing heat transfer system embodying the present invention in a preferred form; and Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional View of the improved double condensate flow control chamber employed in the system of Fig. 1 and showing the selective condensate flow diverting vane therein automatically operated by means of an external thermostat responsive to a tempera- A particular object is to provide an improved thermostatic double condensate circulation control system for a heat transfer system of the above type having a sensitive thermostat mechanically operating a selective condensate flow control vane to provide a substantially fiat temperature regulation as well as a high amplification in the thermostatic control of the exchange of condensate between the system and an accumulating reservoir.

Another object is to provide an improved heat transfer system' of the multiple circulation type in which a variable part of the condensate circulates directly between the condenser and the vaporizer while another variable part of the condensate circulates past a sensitive condensate flow directing vane that can selectively divert this part of the condensate into a condensate accumulating reservoir or permit the return circulation thereof to the vaporizer.

A further object is to provide an improved heat transfer system of the above type in which a pumping means operates continuously to circulate separatel a continuous stream of condensate from the accumulating reservoir that can be diverted selectively by a sensitive control vane into the vaporizing and condensing heat transfer system or returned to the accumulating chamber.

A still further object is to operate the condensate pumping means continuously by thermosiphon action with heat obtained directly from are heat supply sourc of the heat transfer sys- A specific object is to reduce the noise of ebulliture that is dependent upon the rate of heat transfer of the system.

As shown schematically in Fig. 1, the improved variable rate circulating fluid vaporizing and condensing heat transfer system is preferably of the hermetically sealed type from which the noncondensible gases are exhausted, and comprises the vaporizer l0 and the condenser H with which the condensate accumulating chamber I2 is connected through the dual condensate flow control chamber 13 having the selective condensate flow diverting or deflecting vane l4 pivotally mounted therein, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2. The vaporizer I0 preferably is heat insulated as shown. The condensate in the vaporizing chamber I0 is heated by means of the pipe I! which may be continuously supplied with steam or other suitthe usual automatic air vent valve [8.

The condenser II is of the improved form having suitable heat dissipating fins Na and a double downwardly sloping bottom D so that the vapor supplied from the vaporizer Ill through the conduit 20' will enter the condenser ll centrally and after condensing therein will be drained as condensate therefrom by the two separate drain conduits 2| and 22. The part of the condensate drained from condenser ll through conduit 2| will be returned directly to the vaporizer l0 through conduit 23. But the part of the condensate drained from condenser ll through conduit 22 will pass into the top of the 1 double condensate flow control chamber I3 adjacent one side of the control vane M in its vertical position, as shown in Fig. 1.

The dual condensate flow control chamber l3 drain conduits 24 and 23m supply condensate thereto, and with the condensate accumulating chamber. through the drain passage 26 to supply condensate thereto. Preferably the drain conduit 24 extends slightly into chamber [3 to form a sediment trap i3a as shown. The accumulating chamber I: also communicates with the control chamber 13 through the looped thermosiphon pump conduit 30 which ei'rtends from the bottom or accumulating chamber l2 to .the top the control chambr l3 with the condensate discharge end thereof located in closely adjacent parallel alignment with the discharge end of the condensate drain conduit 22 so as to discharge the two streams of condensate'ciosely adjacent to the opposite sides of the flow control vane I4 in its vertical or neutral position as indicated in Fig. 1. I

The looped thermosiphon pump conduit 30 is connected by means of the heat transfer block 3| to receive heat continuously from the steam pipe I! into the leg thereof that communicates with the top of the control chamber 30. Hence, the

looped thermosiphon pump conduit 36 functions continuously to circulate a stream of condensate from theaccumulating chamber l2 into the top of the control chamber l3'adiacent the other side of or cross connecting tube 32 interconnects the legs of the looped conduit 30 so as to provide a local control vane [4 in its vertical position as indiv circulation in the lower part of the loop 3611 that receives heat from'the heat transfer block 3|. This local circulation prevents the superheating oi the condensate above the value. required toeflect the thermosiphon pumping action and thereby avoids violent ebullition of the liquid adjacent the heat transfer block 3| whichmight cause undesirable noise. In order-to equalize the pressures in the system, as well as to prevent the trapping in the accumulating chamber I 2 of any non-condensiblegases that may remainiin the system after sealing, this chamber preferably of the diverting vane l4.

Operation heat transfer between the vaporizer l0 and the condenser l I will depend upon the amount of condensate that is supplied to the vaporizer ill. As previously pointed out, the part of the condensate drained from the'condenser ll through conduit 2| is always returned directly to the vaporizer II to be recirculated to the condenser I I.

As" long as the control vane l4 remains positioned vertically as shown in Fig. 1, the part of the condensate drained from condenser ll through conduit 22 will be returned to the vaporizing chamber l6 through the conduit 24 and the conduit 23. Likewise with the diverting vane l4 vertical, the stream of condensate continuously circulated from the accumulating chamber l2 through the thermosiphon loop 36 to the control chamber l3 will be returned into the accumulating chamber l2 through the passage 26. Thus, as long as the rate of heat release obtained from the condenser II is sufllcient to maintain the temperature to which the thermgstaticelement.

'mostatic element 46 is responsive decreases from is interconnected with the condenser II by the vent conduit 3-3.

As shown more clearly inFig. 2, the double condensate flow diversion vane I4 is provided with pivotal mounting means comprising the shaft 46 7 and the pivot bearing posts 4i and 42, preferably with the axis passing through the center of gravity of vane i4 so that the vane will always be in sensitive equilibrium. The diverting vane l4 may be formed entirely of magnetic material,'or at least'the part l4a thereof extending about bear- 1 ing 42, and the control chamber I 3 may be formed entirely of non-magnetic material, or at least the wall "D thereof. This enables the sensitive diverting vane l4 to be tilted selectively from its vertical position within the sealed 'control'cham- I ber H by means of themagnetic action exerted through wall l3b by an external permanent masnet 44 which may be mounted on the pivot shaft 46 coaxially with vane l4 so as to be operated by a sensitive helical bimetallic temperature'responsive element 46. As shown, one end ofthe thermostatic element 46 is secured to the magnet 44 while the other end is secured to an adjustin member 41 which engages with a friction member 41a. Thus the adjusting member 41' may be operated manually or otherwise to position the thermostatic element 46 so as to hold magnet 44, and consequently. vane 14, in 'diflerent predetermined angular positions at diiIerent predetermined temperatures of element 46. Suitable steps acting thermosiphon pump,

the desired equilibrium value duetoan increase in the heating load, then the thermostatic element will rotate the magnet 44 so as to tilt the diverting vane I4 in a counterclockwise direction from its vertical position, as shown in Fig. 1. As a result the condensate flow directing vane l4 will intercept a progressively increasing portion of the condensate circulated to the control chamber l3 through the conduit 30 by the continuously and direct this condensate from the accumulating chamber l2 into the vaporizer l0 through conduits 24 and 23. The resulting progressive increase in the amoimt oi condensate in the vaporizer l6 will produce a correspondingly increased rate of heat transfer between the vaporizer 'III and the condenser ll so as to progressively increase the rate of heat dissipation from the condenser and thereby grad ually raise the temperature to which thermostatic element 46 is responsive. As the temperature returns to the desired equilibrium value, the thermostatic element 46 will move the deflecting vane l4 toward the vertical position so that the increased rate of heat transfer will balance the increased heating load. In this way, the improved control system provides a substantially flat temperature regulation since equilibrium or the condensate'flow is attained only at the desired equilibrium temperature value.

When the temperature to which the thermostatic element 46 is responsive increases due to a decrease in the heating load, then the magnet 44 will'be rotated by thermostatic element 46 tc tilt the control vane l4 in a clockwise directior accumulating chamber drain connection, and ,1

means dependent upon the supply-of heat to said vaporizer for returning condensate'from said accumulating chamber to said control chamber, 'f to be selectively directed by said vane.

from the vertical position in which it is shown in Fig. 1. In'this case, the condensate received from condenser ll into the control chamber l3 through the conduit 22 will be intercepted and directed by vane l4 through the passage 26 into the condensate accumulating chamber l2 in an amount dependent upon the increase in temperature to which element 46 is responsive. As a result, the amount of condensate returned to the vaporizing chamber I is decreased to produce a corresponding decrease in the rate of heat transfer to the condenser I i so as to rebalance the heat dissipation thereof with the decreased heating load when thedesired equilibrium temperature is attained.

Thus the improvements of the present invention enable the relatively feeble operating force exerted by the sensitive thermostat 46 upon very slight deviations of the desired equilibrium temperature to vary the rate of heat transfer between the vaporizer l0 and the condenser H over a l relatively wide range due to the cumulative self amplification of thethermostatic control power provided by the improved selective condensate flow control system. Moreover, the improved variable heat transfer rate control system is a self-contained unitary part of the vaporheat transfer system and operates entirely mechanically, and hence needs no connection to any outside source of power other than the heat supply source of the vaporizer, all of which is of material advantage in adapting the improved heat transfer system to a wide field of temperature regulating service. For room temperature control service the condenser I i may dissipate heat directly to the room and the thermostat 46 may operate the control vane so asto vary the heat output of the condenser to the room directly in response to room temperature variations. In the case of water heaters, a water temperature responsive thermostat may readily be arranged to vary the transfer of heat from the condenser i! to the water. No technical obstacles are encountered in applying the improved heat transfer control system to other automatic temperature regulating service.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States ist 1. A circulating fluid vaporizing and condensing heat transfer system including a vaporizer, a condenser, a condensate accumulating reservoir, a condensate flow control chamber having separate drain connections with said reservoir and said vaporizer to supply condensate thereto and connected with said condenser to receive condensate therefrom, and means including a tilting flow directing vane pivotally mounted in said control chamber for directing the condensate received therein selectively to said vaporizer drain connection and to said accumulating reservoir drain connection.

2. An automatic variable rate circulating fluid vaporizing and condensing heat transfer system including a vaporizer, a condenser, a condensate accumulating chamber, a. condensate. flow control chamber connected withsaid condenser to drain condensate therefrom and having a drain connection for supplying condensate to said vaporizer and a separate drain connection for supplying condensate to said accumulating chamber, condition responsive means having a pivoted flow directing vane in said control chamber rotatable oppositely from a predetermined position for selectively directing condensate respectively 3. An automatic-variable rate circulating fluid vaporizing and condensing heat transfer system including a vaporizer, a condenser, a condensate accumulating reservoir, a dual condensate flow control chamber having communication with said condenser to drain a stream of condensate there from and with said vaporizer to supply said stream of condensate thereto and having separate communication with said accumulating reservoir to receive a separate stream of condensate therefrom and to return said condensate thereto, means for pumping said separate stream of condensate, and condition responsive means having a pivoted vane in said chamber rotatable oppositely from a predetermined position for selectively directing said streams of condensate respectively to said vaporizer and to said accumulating chamber.

4. A circulating fluid vaporizing and condensing heat transfer system including a vaporizer, a condenser, a condensate accumulating reservoir, a dual condensate flow control chamber con nected between said vaporizer and said condenser to circulate condensate therebetween, said control chamber having separate condensate circulating connections with said accumulating reservoir including a pumping means for circulating condensate therebetween, and means including a vane in said control chamber movable oppositely from a predetermined neutral position to direct the condensate received therein from said condenser to said accumulating reservoir and to direct the condensate received therein from said accumulating chamber to said vaporizer.

5. A sealed circulating fluid vaporizing and condensing heat transfer system including a vaporizer, a condenser, a condensate accumulating res- .ervoir, a dual condensate flow control chamber having a non-magnetic wall and a condensate drain connection to said vaporizer in substantial verticalalignment with a condensate drain connectionfrom said condenser to circulate condensate therebetween and having a condensate drain connection to said accumulating chamber in substantial vertical alignment with a condensate supply'connection therefrom, continuously operable means for pumping condensate through said supply connection, a movable condensate diverting element mounted in said control chamher for selectively diverting the condensate received therein from said condenser drain connection'to said accumulating chamber drain connection and the condensate received therein from said supply connection from said accumulating chamber to said drain connection to said vaporizer, and means including a magnet operable adjacent said wall for moving said diverting element.

6. A circulating fluid vaporizing and condensing heat transfer system including a vaporizer, a condenser having a pair of condensate drain connections therefrom, one communicating directly to said vaporizer drain connection and to said 76 with said vaporizer, a condensate accumulating reservoir, a dual condensate flow control chamher having communication with said vaporizer to drain condensate thereto and with the other of said drain connections from said condenser to receive condensate drained therefrom and with said accumulating chamber to drain condensate thereto, means for pumping condensate from said the condensate received therein selectively to said vaporizer or to said accumulating chamber.

'7. A circulating fluid vaporizing and condensing heat transfer system including a vaporizer, a dual drain condenser having one drain thereof connected in direct condensate return relation with said vaporizer, a condensate accumulating reservoir, a dual condensate flow control chamber interconnected between the other drain of said condenser and said vaporizer to control the return of condensate therebetween and having separate condensate drain connections with 'said accumulating reservoir, and means including a tilting flow diverting element in said chamber for diverting the condensate received therein selectively to said vaporizer and to said accumulating chamber.

8. A circulating fluid vaporizing and condensing heat transfer system including a vaporizer, a condenser, a condensate accumulating chamber, a dualcondensate flow control chamber having communication with said vaporizer to supply condensate thereto and with said condenser to receive condensate therefrom and with said accumulating chamber to supply condensate thereto and to receive condensate therefrom, means including a vane movable in said chamber for diverting the condensate received therein selectively to said vaporizer or to said accumulating therefrom and with said accumulating chamber to supply condensate thereto and to receive condensate therefrom, means including a movable element in said chamber for diverting the condensate received therein selectively to said vaporizer or to said accumulating chamber, means including a magnet for positioning said diverting element, and thermosiphon pumping means in heat transfer relation with said continuous heat supply means for continuously pumping condensate from said accumulating chamber to said control chamber.

10. A circulating fluid vaporizing and condensing heat transfer system including a vaporizing element, a condensing element, a condensate accumulating element, condensate flow control means communicating with each of said elements and including a movable member for directing condensate from said condensing element selectively to said vaporizer and to said accumulatin element, and pumping means for supplying conchamber, means including a magnetfor moving said vane, and continuously operating pumping means for supplying condensate from said accudensate from said condensate accumulating element to said movable member to be directed under the selective control thereof to said vaporizing element and to said accumulating element.

11. A circulating fluid vaporizing and condensing heat transfer system including a vaporizingelement and the other fordirecting all said condensate to said accumulating element.

MARCUS E. FIENE. 

